How do I change my major?

You can declare or change your major as long as you are in Good Standing– based on APE. This can be done through the Change of Program Elements (COPE) in Carleton Central. Your application will be submitted to and processed by the Registrar’s Office.

Under ‘Student Online Applications’ you will see a link called ‘Change of Program Elements.’ Click on that link.

You will see a summary of your current program elements. Read through the information and click ‘Change Program Elements.’

Make the changes you would like to your degree. Click ‘Submit Changes.

Your request will be sent to the Registrar’s Office for approval

*Please note that if your change of program elements was approved, you will not receive written communication from the Registrar’s Office. You will need to check your audit to confirm that the request was approved.

If your application was not approved, you will receive written communication through your Carleton email explaining the reason for refusal for the changes.

Examples of a Change of Major in a BA include (but not limited to):

English to French
Geography to Economics
Film Honours to Film General

Examples of a Change of Major in B. Sc. include (but not limited to):

Chemistry to Physics
Biology to Geology
Neuroscience to Integrated Science

If you are having trouble deciding what major you would like to choose, it would be a good idea to see an academic advisor. By meeting with an advisor, you will discuss your eligibility and will help you identify the effect that changing a major will have on your academic plans.

An academic advisor can also run a ‘What-if’ audit to see how your new program elements would change your audit. You can also run a ‘What-if’ audit yourself by clicking here.

If you were approved for your COPE changes, you can view your new degree requirements by running an audit. You will not receive any written confirmation from the Registrar’s Office, so ensure you check your Carleton Central to view the status of your application.

If you were not approved for your change, you will receive an email through your Carleton account explaining the reasoning for refusal. If you receive this decision, it is recommended you contact the Academic Advising Centre to speak with an academic advisor.